Apparatus for automatically staining microscope slides

ABSTRACT

In this apparatus for automatically staining material on microscope slides, a straight longitudinally extending overhead track movably supports a guide block for a holder for the microscope slides. This track is vertically raised and lowered while remaining level. When the track is raised a controlled chain drive moves a carriage assembly along an electric guide rail to move the guide block along the overhead track stopping it in positions above selected solution containers mounted on a container support. The track is lowered to immerse the slides into the solution in the selected container. A timing belt and timing switch control the duration of time that the slides are immersed in the solution of the selected container. At the end of the treatment the guide block is stopped in an unloading position or may be left in the last container containing an Xylene solution. The solution in the containers is gently agitated by rocking the container support on a longitudinally extending axis.

United States Pat ent 6 v Clarke [s41 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLYSTAINING MICROSCOPE SLIDES [72] I Inventor: Benjamin Earl Clarke,Milwaukee,

Wis. [73] Assignee: Thermolyne Corporation, Dubuque,

. Iowa [22] Filed: April 5, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 131,1 9

[52] U.S. Cl. ..118/6, 118/421, 118/425,

134/76, 214/1 BB [51] Int. Cl ..B05c 3/04 [58] Field of Search ..214/1BB; 134/76, 85, 86; 118/423, 425, 416, 54, 50, 50.1

[56] References Cited v T I I I 1 ll 1 IL 92 11.1 I

1151 4 3,691,988 1 51' Sept. 19, 1972 Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan vAttorney-John W. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard l-l. Michael, Paul R.Puerner, Joseph A. Gemignani, Robert E; Clemency, Andrew 0. Riteris,Glenn A. Buse and Spencer B. Michael [57 ABSTRACT In this apparatus forautomatically staining material on microscope slides, a straightlongitudinally extending overhead track movably supports a guide blockfor a holder for the microscope slides. This track is vertically raisedand lowered while remaining level. When the track is raised a controlledchain drive moves a carriage assembly along an electric guide rail tomove the guide block along the overhead track stopping it in positionsabove selected solution containers mounted on a container support. Thetrack is lowered to immerse the slides into the solution in the selectedcontainer. A timing belt and timing switch control the duration of timethat the slides are immersed in the solution of the selectedcontainen'Atthe end of the treatment the guide block is stopped in an unloadingposition or may be left in the last container containing an Xylenesolution. The solution in the containers is gently agitated by rockingthe container support on a longitudinally extending axis.

'5 Claims, ,8 Drawing Figures 4a '11 Y 1 1 I 24 1 II 7 /8 IIII IH 94) I,g

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APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC ALLY STAINING MICROSCOPE SLIDES BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto apparatus for automatically transferring cytology preparations,tissue sections and other preparations from one to another of stainingsolutions and immersing them in each solution for an optimal length oftime. The invention relates more particularly to mechanical andstructural improvements in such apparatus which makes it: less expensiveto manufacture; more flexible to use with varying preparations; requireless space; and more rapid in the operation of a complete cycle.

2. Description of the Prior Art Automatic apparatus for the immersion oftissue specimens or other material on microscopic slides has variousmechanical and structural arrangements shown and described in thefollowing US. Pat. Nos.:

None of these patents however show or suggest-an overhead straight trackwhich is raised and lowered while remaining level to control theimmersion time and the lineal advance of the guide block for the holderfor the preparations to be stained. In many of these patents thepreparation holders move in a circular path. Such apparatus canaccommodate only a limited number of containers. g

None of these patents show the specific belt type of automatic timecontrol means which constitutes a part of this invention.

None of these patents show notches in the top of the overhead trackwhich cooperate with switching mechanisms to index the carrier withrespect to the solution containers which are arranged in a straight linecomprising a feature'of this invention.

None of these patents show a reciprocal limited pivotal movement of thesupport for the solution containers which provide continuous gentleagitation of the solution and constitutes an essential part of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic apparatus for stainingmaterial on microscope slides, tissue sections and other preparationsand embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the coversremoved;

FIG. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with rearwall of the casing removed and parts of panels broken away for clarityin illustration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2 showing the disc or cams for raising and lowering the track withthetrack shown in lowered position with the slide holder immersed in thesolution in a container;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing the camsand switches which control the drip time and kick advance;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6of FIG. 3 and showing the mounting and mechanism providing agitation forthe solution in the containers;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7of FIG. 3 showing the guide rail and carriage assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing of an electrical circuit diagram for thecontrol of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the components shown in thepositions assumed when the track and guide block are in the raisedstarting position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail and by reference numerals, the apparatus for automaticallystaining material on microscope slides comprises a base 10 on which ispivotally mounted on a longitudinally extending axis a support 12 for aplurality of containers 14 for various liquid reagents for specificallytreating cytology preparations, tissue' sections and other preparations.These preparations are usually carried on glass slides, 76 of which maybe suspended in a slide holder 16.

Up and Down Motion This slide holder is suspended from a guide block 18which is longitudinally movable along an overhead track 20. The ends ofthe track 20 extend through slots 27 into towers 22 and 24, left andright respectively as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Discs or earns 26 and28 are revolvably mounted in these towers. Each of the discs or cams 26and 28 carry a sheave 30 near the perimeter of the discs or cams. Theextended end portions of the track 20 rest on these sheaves and areguided laterally by them. As the discs or cams rotate in unison thetrack will be raised and lowered while remaining substantially level orhorizontal. The disc or cam 26 is mounted on a shaft 31 which is driventhrough a gear train 32 by an electric motor 34, termed the up and downmotor. The rotation of shaft 31 is transmitted by sets of mitre gears 36and a longitudinally extending shaft 38 extending lengthwise in the rearof the apparatus housing to a shaft 40 on which is mounted the metaldisc or cam 28 (see, FIG. 2). Thus both the discs or cams 26 and 28 arerotated in unison at identical speeds. There are slots 27 in towers 22,24 which permit vertical movement of the track 20. The track is locatedlongitudinally by rollers 29 (see, FIG. 4) attached to it just insidethe slots. The start of the up and down motor 34 is controlled by atiming device to be later described in detail. The stopping of the upand down motor at the lowermost position of the track is controlled by amicroswitch and electric circuitry hereinafter described in detail.

Longitudinal Motion The longitudinal advance and retraction of the slideholder 16 by the guide block 18 is accomplished by a carriage assembly42 (see FIG. 7) slidable along an electric guide rail 44 fixedly mountedin the separated towers 22 and 24. A switch assembly 45 including l anormally closed microswitch 46 (see FIG. 8) spring loaded toward openposition, and (2) a teflon actuator its upward travel. As will beexplained later in more I detail, thiscompletes the circuit to ahorizontal drive motor which controls the advance of the carriageassembly 42. When the actuator 47 drops into one of the notches 48 inthe top of the track 20 the microswitch 46 will open. This stops theforward advance of the carriage assembly 42. The longitudinal. movementof the carriage assembly 42 is transmitted to the guide block 18 by rods49 which are fixed to the carriage assembly 42 and are verticallyslidable in openings in the guide block 18. The notches 48 are spacedrelative to the containers 14 so that at each stop the slide holder 16is centered over a solution container 14. A chain and sprocketarrangement indicated generally at 50 is attached to the carriageassembly 42. The chain and sprocket arrangement is driven by areversible electric motor 51, termed horizontal drive motor. Theelectrical connection between such motor and the microswitch 46 isaccomplished by conductor rails 53 enclosed in the electric guide rail44 along which terminal rollers 55 on the carriage assembly 42 travel asthe carriage assembly 42 is moved along the electric guide rail 44. Thiseliminates all exposed moving or bending wires, cables, and coils andmakes the apparatus safe.

Each time the track is raised from its lowermost to its uppermostposition, the actuator 47 will again enter one of the notches 48 andthus it will not be moved from its spring loaded open position. Howeverto offset this condition and start-the horizontal drive motor, there isprovided a normally closed microswitch 52, termed a kick-switch, whichis held open by a cam 54 for the duration of the down and up travel ofthe track except for a short period just before the track reaches itsuppermost position when the cam permits the kickswitch to be closed toenergize the advance motor 51 until the actuator 47 passes over thenotch to again close microswitch 46 when the track 20 is in theuppermost position and thus energize and start the horizontal drivemotor 51. The cam 54 is mounted on and revolves with the shaft 38 (seeFIGS. 2, 3, and It is so angularly positioned and related to the camsand discs 26 and 28 that the kick-advance and stop takes place only whenthe track 20 is in a raised position with the end of actuator 47 justslightly above the top of the track.

Timing Previous mention has been made of a timing device which controlsthe length of the immersion or the length of time the track is in itslowermost position. The timing device consists of an endless belt 56which has formed on its outer side a series of spaced projecting ribs.The belt is trained over pulleys one of which is driven at a constantspeed by a small electric motor 58 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 8). The ribs onthe belt as they move past close a normally open timer microswitch 60 toenergize the up and down motor 34 and start raising the track 20 fromits lowermost position. The length of time a preparation remains in eachsolution is determined by the spacing of the ribs on the belt.

It is preferable to restrain the advance of the guide block 18 afterbeing raised from a container for about 10 seconds to allow for thedrainage of the solution from the slides back into the container. Thisis accomplished by a normally open microswitch 64, termed drip switch,which is maintained closed for all but a small portion of circumferenceof a cam 66 (see FIG. 5) carried by the shaft 38. The opening of theswitch 64 disconnects the up and down motor34 for a short duration. Bystopping the upward motion of the track before it reaches its uppermostposition, there can be no energization of the horizontal drive motor 51by the action of the track 20 contacting the actuator 47 of, the switchassembly 45. I

lessen the pressure on the motor and cam arrangement.

Control The mechanism and electrical motors for providing Up and DownMotion, Longitudinal Motion, Timing and Agitation have heretofore beendescribed. in such previous description many of the electrical controlswitches, motors, cams and the like have been referenced and described.It is the function of this section of the specification to reference theswitches and controls not previously referenced and correlate allcontrols both manual and automatic and explain the method of operationof the staining apparatus of this invention.

Assume that: the guide block 18 and slide holder 16 are in position overthe first container 14 with the track 20 moving down; switch 46 isopened by its spring; normally closed switch 76 is opened and normallyopen switch 78 is closed by the action of the rod 80 acting upon thelever of this double pole switch; and that power toggle switch 82 isclosed and the relay 63 energized: (a) closing relay switch 84 to shortout normally open switch 78 so that upon the opening of it the relaywill remain energized; (b) opening relay switch 86 to cut out thecircuit to the return section of motor 51; (c) closing relay switch 88to place the horizontal drive motor 51 the slosh motor 70, and timingbelt motor 58 under control of the advance toggle switch 92; and (d)closing relay switch 90 to place the up and down motor 34 under controlof the toggle advance switch 92.

Now when the advance toggle switch 92 is manually moved from its deadcenter off position to advance position the circuit will be closed andthe timer belt motor 58 will start moving the timing belt 56 which thencloses timer switch 60 to energize the up and down motor 34 to start thedescent of track 20. Im-

on the timing belt will slide out from under the control lever of timerswitch 60 and it will open to place the up and down motor under thecontrol of down switch 74 and drip switch 64 which is now held closed bythe cam 66. When the track 20 hits the control of microswitch 74 (see,FIG. 4) it will open the circuit to the up and down motor 34. The slidesin the slide holder 16 will remain in lowered position in the firstcontainer until the next ridge on the timing belt hits the control leverof timing switch 60 to close it to again energize the up and down motor34. As soon as the track 20 starts its ascent the down switch 74 willclose to place the up and down motor 34 under the control of the dripswitch 64 which is held closed by the cam 66. As the ridge on the belt56 advances the timing switch 60 will open but the motor will remainenergized through the down switch 74 and drip switch 64. As the tracknears the top of its upward travel the notch in cam 66. will momentarilyallow drip switch 64 to open and stop the motor 34 for a controlledtime, if timing-switch 60 is open, to allow the liquid on the slides todrip back into the container below the slide holder. The next ridge onthe timing belt 56 closes timing switch 60 at which time the upwardtravel of the track 20 will again start. As this ridge passes, thetiming switch 60 will open but at that time the switch 64 will be closedby the cam 66 to keep the up and down motor 34 energized. Atapproximately the same time the cam 54 will permit microswitch 52 tomomentarily close and energize the horizontal drive motor 51 to slightlyadvance carriage assembly 42 so that the teflon actuator 47 will bemoved out of alignment with the respective notch 48 in the track 20.Hence the top of the track will contact the teflon actuator 47 and causeit to close microswitch 46 and automatically start the horizontal drivemotor 51. This advances the carriage assembly 42 and the guide block 18until the teflon actuator 47 drops into the next notch 48 on the track20. This will open switch 46 and stop the horizontal drive motor 51 withthe slide holder positioned over the second container. Since the up anddown motor 34 is still energized it will continue the descent of thetrack 20.

The sequence just described for the immersion into and withdrawal fromthe first container will be automatically repeated for each successivecontainer until the carriage assembly 42 and guide block 18 is over thenext to last container which contains a solution (X- ylene) in which theslides may be left for long periods, say overnight or over a weekend. Asthe track 20 descends into the Xylene container an arm on the slideholder 16 will open the stop-in-Xylene switch 94 breaking the circuit tothe up and down motor 34 and the timing motor 58 and establishing acircuit to the buzzer toggle switch 96 and buzzer 98. If the operatorand previously closed the buzzer toggle switch 96 the buzzer 98 willsound off to advise the operator that the slides are in the Xylenecontainer. If the operator intends to leave the slides in the Xylenesolution he can manually open the buzzer toggle switch 98 to stop thebuzzer.

When the operator desires to remove the slides from the Xylene solutionand place them over the last container for draining and removal, theunload from Xylene toggle switch 100 is moved to the closed position toestablish the circuit to the upand down motor 34 as well as the circuitsto the timer motor 58, slosh motor 70, and advance motor 51. The advanceswitch 92 is then closed to energize the up and down motor 34 and raisethe slides out of the Xylene container. At the top of its upward travelthe track 20 opens switch 74 to stop up and down travel as previouslydescribed and again start forward horizontal travel. However the rod 61will contact the control lever on the switch 62 and open the circuit tothe relay. This closes relay switch 86 and opens relay switches 84, 88,and 90 which stops all motors. In this positionthe slide holder will beabove the last container and the slides can be drained and uriloaded.However with power switch 82 closed the operator may swing the toggleswitch 92 to the carriage return position and the advance and returnmotor 51 is driven in reverse by the circuit containing the capacitor102 to move the carriage assembly to the start position where the rodwill shift the switch 76 to open position and switch 78 to closedposition and the slide holder will stop in position over the firstcontainer. As the carriage assembly leaves the finish position theswitch 62 will automatically close to energize the relay as the carriageassembly reaches the start position. The parts are now in the samestarting position as previously assumed. Slides may be loaded in theunload or in the start position.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically staining material on I microscope slidescomprising:

a. a container support;

b. a series of solution containers mounted in a straight line on saidsupport;

c. a straight longitudinally extending overhead track vertically movableand mounted above said containers;

d. a guide block movable along said track;

e. a slide holder carried by said guide block;

f. first means for raising and lowering said track while maintaining itlevel;

g. second means for moving said guide block along said track;

h. control means for said first and second means (1) to cause said trackto be lowered and said slide holder to enter into a first container andremain at a low level therein a predetermined time, and (2) to advancesaid guide block to a position above the second container after saidtrack is raised and said slide holder withdrawn from said firstcontainer;

i. said first means including (1) a disc adjacent each end of saidoverhead track, said discs each having a sheave mounted eccentricthereto and engagingly supporting said track, (2) gear and shaft meansfor interconnecting said discs to rotate them in unison to maintain saidtrack level during the raising and lowering thereof, and (3) an up anddown electrical motor for driving said discs; and

j. said second means including (1) an electric guide rail fixedlypositioned above said overhead track, (2) a carriage assembly movablealong said electric guide rail, and (3) the motion of said carriageassembly is transmitted to said guide block by means permitting relativevertical movement therebetween.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means alsoincludes:

trol means for said first means includes:

.a. an endless timing belt having spaced ridges thereon;

b. a timer motor for driving said belt at a constant rate of speed; and

c. a timing switch operated by the ridges on said belt and connected inthe circuit for said control means first means to control the length oftime said slide holder remains in its low position within eachcontainer.

' 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein second means and saidcontrol means for said second means includes:

a. said carriage assembly having terminal rollers in contact with saidconductor rails;

b. a switch carried by said carriage assembly and connected with saidterminal rollers, said switch having an actuator;

c. said overhead track has on its top a plurality of spaced notchespositioned in alignment with said solution containers and adapted toreceive the end of said actuator to operate said switch;

. chain and sprocket means for moving said carriage assembly along saidguide rail; e. means interconnecting said carriage assembly to saidguide block; and f. a horizontal drive motor for operating said chainand sprocket means, the energization of which is under control of saidswitch.

1. Apparatus for automatically staining material on microscope slidescomprising: a. a container support; b. a series of solution containersmounted in a straight line on said support; c. a straight longitudinallyextending overhead track vertically movable and mounted above saidcontainers; d. a guide block movable along said track; e. a slide holdercarried by said guide block; f. first means for raising and loweringsaid track while maintaining it level; g. second means for moving saidguide block along said track; h. control means for said first and secondmeans (1) tO cause said track to be lowered and said slide holder toenter into a first container and remain at a low level therein apredetermined time, and (2) to advance said guide block to a positionabove the second container after said track is raised and said slideholder withdrawn from said first container; i. said first meansincluding (1) a disc adjacent each end of said overhead track, saiddiscs each having a sheave mounted eccentric thereto and engaginglysupporting said track, (2) gear and shaft means for interconnecting saiddiscs to rotate them in unison to maintain said track level during theraising and lowering thereof, and (3) an up and down electrical motorfor driving said discs; and j. said second means including (1) anelectric guide rail fixedly positioned above said overhead track, (2) acarriage assembly movable along said electric guide rail, and (3) themotion of said carriage assembly is transmitted to said guide block bymeans permitting relative vertical movement therebetween.
 2. Apparatusas defined in claim 1 wherein said first means also includes: a. anelectrical circuit with switches for starting and stopping said up anddown electrical motor to position said slide holder above and within acontainer.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said containersupport is mounted for rocking on an axis extending longitudinallythereof; and b. there is a slosh motor and associated rocking means forrocking said support to agitate any solution in said containers. 4.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means for saidfirst means includes: a. an endless timing belt having spaced ridgesthereon; b. a timer motor for driving said belt at a constant rate ofspeed; and c. a timing switch operated by the ridges on said belt andconnected in the circuit for said control means first means to controlthe length of time said slide holder remains in its low position withineach container.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein second meansand said control means for said second means includes: a. said carriageassembly having terminal rollers in contact with said conductor rails;b. a switch carried by said carriage assembly and connected with saidterminal rollers, said switch having an actuator; c. said overhead trackhas on its top a plurality of spaced notches positioned in alignmentwith said solution containers and adapted to receive the end of saidactuator to operate said switch; d. chain and sprocket means for movingsaid carriage assembly along said guide rail; e. means interconnectingsaid carriage assembly to said guide block; and f. a horizontal drivemotor for operating said chain and sprocket means, the energization ofwhich is under control of said switch.